No recognition by U.S.

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34086, 25 February 1976, Page 21

No recognition by U.S.

(N Z.P A.-Reuter —Copyright) WASHINGTON, February 24.

The United States has no plans to extend diplomatic recognition to the Popular Movement for Liberation of Angola (M.P.L.A.) as the government in Angola.

“The President has strong personal views about not doing that as long as there are 12,000 Cuban troops in Angola,” the White House i Press Secretary (Mr Ronald (Nissen) said yesterday.

He was commenting on reports that the Gulf Oil Company, which has extensive operations in the Cabinda region of the former Portuguese territory, is seeking Government permission to enter into direct talks with the M.P.L.A., about resuming its activities in Angola. The Soviet Union and (Cuban-supported M.P.L.A., (which has established its government in Luanda, has won widespread diplomatic recognition after its battlefield successes against its two Western-backed rival factions, Unita and the F.N.L.A.

The Zambian newspapers quoted the Zaire Foreign Minister (Mr Nguza Karl I-Bond) as telling reporters ion his arrival in the Zam-

ibian capital, Lusaka, last night that Zaire would not [consider recognition of the ; M.P.L.A. Government unless it received a guarantee against Cuban interference in Zaire. “We will also want a guarantee that the more than 1 million Angolan refugees in Zaire will be allowed to return home,” Mr Nguza is quoted as saying.

“A third condition which will have to be met is that the 6000 Katangese soldiers who fought on the side of the M.P.L.A. be returned to Zaire.” The soldiers fled from Zaire in the early 1960 s after a bloody, but unsuccessful, war to secure secession of tfie southern province of Katanga from Zaire. The Foreign Minister is carrying a message for President Kaunda of Zambia from President Mobutu of Zaire. The contents of the message were not disclosed, but political observers in Lusaka note that neither Zaire nor Zambia, the only independent Black African countries I which have borders with Angola, have recognised the M.P.L.A. Government in Luanda. “We estimate that there are more than 12,000 Cuban troops in ..ngola, all equipped with sophisticated Soviet weapons,” Mr Nguza said. “Zaire, which has a 1600-mile-long border with Angola, needs assurances that Cuba will not be knocking at its door. If this happened, Zaire would have to defend itself.”